Alley-Oops I Think I'm Falling in Love (With the Wrong Guy)

[27] Taming the Shrew

Damn...

I took a step towards her, rubbing my forehead, "I mean, why are you so nervous right now?"

Her head whipped up like she was startled by the question, by the fact that I noticed. Then her eyes drifted towards the door, towards the sound of Allie's fake laugh.

"Is that what you so desperately needed to tell me?" She asked, changing the subject.

"Well... yeah. Whitney's got a direct line to Coach, her dad's the booster club president. I can't have her running her mouth about your little... errr... fling..." I said, fighting to keep my expression neutral, but my eye twitched as I replayed the image of Aria pressing into Taylor, her shorts riding up, nearly to the hip, as she propped those long ass legs up on the ottoman.

"Fling?" She repeated, then her eyes widened and I saw a flicker of anger appear. "Are you talking about Taylor?"

My jaw worked, my silence speaking for me.

Her lips parted at that and I exhaled loudly through my nose in frustration. I was a bumbling idiot.

Before I could undo the damage, her eyes flashed and her lips bunched into an indignant pout. "So not only do I have to be your fake, but secret, girlfriend, now I can't date anybody else? Piss off, Tate!"

I groaned and slid my fingers through my hair. My curls tangled around my knuckles and I tugged, hoping to relieve the pressure building inside my skull.

"It's not like that." I said softly. Aria shivered.

"If Coach hears that you're making out with random dudes, he's going to figure out our little arrangement. He's already suspicious." I clarified.

Aria fingered her temples and she started to pace. Then she spun towards me, "First of all, we were not making out."

Before I could stop myself I quipped, "Looked like you were..."

"Why were you looking so close, you pervert?"

"I wasn't." I said defensively. "I don't give two shits about what... or who... you do."

She raised a skeptical eyebrow at me, her tongue jutting into her cheek. I opened my mouth to speak, to move on, but she cut me off.

"So you don't care if I kiss Taylor?" She asked, inspecting me.

No.

Except, the thought of it... well, that tightening in my chest came back.

What was wrong with me?

"Go for it." I said defiantly, mostly for myself. I needed to get a grip. Seeing her skepticism I added, "... Why would I?"

She bit her lip, then pointed towards the theater, "You seemed bothered, Tate."

I scoffed and sat down on the foot of the bed. "I don't care, trust me. If anything I'm surprised..."

She squinted at me.

"... I didn't think you were capable of retracting
your claws."

Aria growled under her breath, clenching her teeth. "Are you done?" She demanded, moving towards the door.

I pushed off the bed to block her way. "We good? You'll help me with Coach?"

She yowled in exasperation. "Why do you care so much about this? You don't need me to be your conscience, Tate. Just don't be a dick."